“I would say that Anthony Stanko has decided to leave the football team and stay on scholarship at Penn State, which he’s allowed to do, that’s his right to do,’’ O’Brien said.

NASCAR drivers hit 214 mph in tire test

INDIANAPOLIS

A new environmentally friendly tire and cool morning temperatures had NASCAR drivers clocking speeds they weren’t even sure were possible Tuesday.

On the first day of a closed tire test on Indianapolis’ historic 2.5-mile oval, Mark Martin wrote on Twitter that he had hit 212 mph in the morning. When Jeff Gordon saw the post, he asked his own team how fast he reached and said he was told 214.

Drivers attributed the speed to almost perfect conditions in the morning -- good grip and a cool track. In the heat of the afternoon, Gordon said the tire wear increased and the speeds slowed.

Joe Frazier’s gym gets historic status

PHILADELPHIA

The Philadelphia gym where former heavyweight champ Joe Frazier lived and trained has been named to the National Register of Historic Places.

Preservation officials say they were notified Tuesday of the designation by the National Park Service. They say it will help protect the building and commemorate Frazier’s legacy.

Frazier converted the three-story north Philadelphia building into a gym in 1968. He lived upstairs and trained downstairs.

For decades after his retirement, the space served as a neighborhood anchor. But Frazier sold the building in 2008, and it’s now partially occupied by a furniture store.

Havelange resigns as honorary president

ZURICH

Joao Havelange has resigned as honorary FIFA president in a World Cup bribery scandal.

FIFA ethics court judge Joachim Eckert says in a ruling published Tuesday by FIFA that Havelange resigned on April 18.

Eckert cleared current FIFA President Sepp Blatter of wrongdoing in the case, which involved millions of dollars in kickbacks from World Cup contracts marketed by now-defunct agency ISL.

Eckert says “no further proceedings related to the ISL matter are warranted against any other football official.”

The German judge notes that Nicolas Leoz resigned as South America’s football president last week.

Clergy jumping into NY martial arts fight

ALBANY, N.Y.

Clergy against mixed martial arts are jumping into the New York fight over legalizing the sport, coming to Albany to lobby against it.

A group that includes priests and rabbis heading to the Capitol Tuesday says the sensationalized violence of human cage fighting has no place in civilized society.

They’re urging New York’s Assembly to continue the ban. The state Senate has passed legislation to legalize and regulate it like most other states.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he’s not opposed, urging the sport’s promoters to make their case for a likely economic boost.

Barcelona, Messi try to overturn 4-goal deficit

MADRID

Lionel Messi and Barcelona hope to become the first team to advance in the Champions League after losing the first leg of a knockout matchup by four goals.

Bayern Munich routed Barcelona 4-0 last week in Germany, and the teams meet Wednesday night in Spain at Camp Nou for the second leg of their total-goals semifinal.

“We need to go for a comeback,” Messi said.

Vindicator staff/wire reports

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